Master Chief Electronics Technician David Turley, former chief of the boat on the submarine Nebraska's gold crew, speaks to students during Omaha Navy Week in 2011. (MCCS Gary Ward / Navy)

The top enlisted man on a Bangor, Wash.-based ballistic-missile submarine was fired Jan. 3 for "administrative reasons," a Submarine Group 9 spokesman confirmed Thursday.

Master Chief Electronics Technician (SS) David Turley was chief of the boat of Nebraska's gold crew before he was fired by Capt. Paul Skarpness, then-commander of Submarine Squadron 17, SUBGRU 9 spokesman Lt. Ed Early said. Turley is the first top enlisted member at a command to be fired in 2012; 13 were http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/12/navy-2011-co-xo-cmc-firings/">fired last year.

After his relief, the Navy began an investigation into allegations that Turley had had an inappropriate relationship with a female Naval Academy midshipman onboard Nebraska, officials familiar with the investigation said.

The firing came only a month after the first female submariners arrived in the fleet. They began reporting to ballistic-missile subs Wyoming and Maine and guided-missile subs Georgia and Ohio.

Turley's relief was "unconnected" to allegations of an inappropriate relationship aboard the sub, Early said. Due to privacy concerns, he declined to comment on the nature of the alleged relationship or whether Turley was a subject of the investigation.

"Appropriate actions were taken for those who did not meet the high standards we expect," Early said.

Early also declined to specify what "administrative reasons" led to Turley's relief.

Asked why SUBGRU 9 did not disclose the firing until pressed by Navy Times, Early said that because Turley wasn't "relieved for cause," there was no requirement to make his relief public.

The academy investigated the allegations as soon as they learned of them, academy spokesman Cmdr. William Marks said in an email. "The midshipman is being processed through our misconduct system; however, I cannot speculate on any potential disciplinary action until the adjudication is complete."

Turley, 41, of Gardenville, Nev., joined the Navy in 1991, according to Navy Personnel Command records. Over his 21-year career, he served aboard eight subs and joined the gold crew as COB in April 2010. Turley was selected for E-9 last May and frocked after that, Early said.